Device for milling keyway slots



2 SHEETS- SHEET 1 L. W. MCCLELLAND DEVICE FOR MILLING KEYWAY SLOTS April 22, 1952 Filed July 20, 1949 En/As n/.MCcL-MA/, BY @Tvm /Wf/VEY April 22, 1952 l., w, MccLr-:LLAND 2,593,777

DEVICE F OR MILLING KEYWAY SLOTS Filed July 20, 1949 2 SHEE:'.l'S---Sl-E' 2 Patented Apr. 22,1952

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

over the butt end of a railway car coupler and maintained in proper aligned relationship with the keyway slot by the simple exped1ent of manipulating adjustment screws and the device is so constructed that it need not be dismantledr and again assembled to place the cutting tool in operative association with the key slot.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cup-shaped body member which may be arranged over the butt end of a railway car coupler and provided with a tool carrier mounted for guided movement on the cup-shaped body member including means for moving the milling cutter into operative association with the metal to be removed without resorting to the necessity of clamping the body member on the coupler.

Another object of the invention is to provide a milling device with means for indicating the amount of material'removed by the cutting tool without stopping the machines to measure the dimensions of the key slot.

A still further object ofY the invention is to provide a body member for a portable milling device provided with relatively long guide re- Ycesses for the legs of a movable U-shaped tool. holder to avoid deflection of the milling cutter .when force is applied to move the cutting tool into engagement with the metal to be removed.

Other objects and features .of the invention Y will be apparent to those skilled in the art as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein an exemplary embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

` of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4--4 0f Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings the rear end portion of a railway -car coupler is shown at I0. A

number of railway car couplers are provided with a key slot for receiving a horizontal key (not shown) for securing the coupler to the draft gear of a railway car or vehicle. Such a keyway slot becomes worn during use and the present invention is directed to a device for refinishing the slot I in the shank of a railway coupler.

A milling device exhibiting the invention Yincludes a cup-shaped body member I2 which is adapted to be arranged over the butt end I4 of the coupler. The body member I2 may be formed of metal plates including a front wall I6 and the plate member forming the front wall may be provided with slots I'I to reduce the Weight of the device. One side wall is shown at I8 which is formed of a metal plate provided with an elongated slot I9 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. A recess 2| o1" elongated shape is provided in the side wall I8 and this recess and the slot I9 are provided for the purpose of reducing the mass of the device. The rear wall of the body member is shown at 22 and the plate member forming the yrear wall is also provided with slots 23 as shown l in Fig. 3.

These slots 23 correspond in shape and pattern to the slot and are provided for the .purpose of keeping the weight of the mechanism to a minimum. The other side wall 24 corresponds in shape and dimensions to the side wall I8. This side wall is provided with an elongated slot 26 corresponding in shape to the slot I9 in the opposite side wall I8. A recess 21 of elongated shape is provided in the side wall 24 to further reduce the weight of the milling mechanism. The `top of the body member is covered by a plate 28. This plate may be welded to the front and side walls and the side and end walls of the body member may be welded to each other. The top plate 28 is provided with apertures 29 to further minimizethe weight of the device.

The cup-shaped body member I2 is rectangular shaped in cross section and of such dimensions as fto be arranged` freely over the butt end I4 of the railway car coupler II). The side walls I8 and 24 each carry an adjustment screw 3| arranged in threaded openings in these side walls. Each adjustment screw 3| is provided with a handle 33 so that the inner ends of these adjustment screws may be moved into engagement with'a side face of the coupler shank. The body member I2 may thereby be properly positioned on the butt end of the coupler. In this connection it is to be noted that the screws 3| are not required to carry any of the forces developed during the milling operation but the screws 3| serve to maintain the body member I2 in a 3 xed adjusted position relative to the key slot The front wall I6 of the body member is provided with an elongated recess 36 and the depth of this recess will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 4. The recess 36 extends throughout the vertical length of the plate which forms the front wall |6 and the top plate 28 is provided with a notch 31 in alignment with the recess 36 to thereby provide an elongated bearing recess for one leg 38 of an inverted U-shaped tool holder 4|. The plate member forming the front wall |6 is also provided with a slot 42 at the lower end of the guide recess 36 and this -slot 42 is open at its lower end. The purpose of the slot 42 will be more apparent as the present disclosure proceeds.

The rear wall 22 is likewise provided with an elongated recess 5| which extends lengthwise of the body member and is in alignment with a notch 52 provided in the top plate 28. The recess 5| and the notch 52 provide a guide bearing for the leg 54 of the U-shaped tool holder 4|. A notch 56 is provided in the lower portion of the rear wall 22 for the purpose of accommodating the milling cutter as hereinafter described. The tool holder or carrier 4| is mounted on the body member 2 with the leg 38 arranged for sliding movement in the recess 36. The leg 54 is arranged for sliding movement within the recess 5| and the intermediate portion of the tool holder 4| extends across the top of the cup- Shaped body member.

The invention includes means for preventing Y the tool holder 4| from unintentional removal from operative association with the body member. In the embodiment illustrated such means include a screw 6| threaded into the leg 54 of the tool holder. This screw carries an unthreaded end portion 62 which extends into a slot 63 in the rear Wall 22 of the body member. This slot 63 is elongated as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and of such dimension as to permit a normal stroke of the tool holder 4| in the guide recesses of the body member. The screw 6| is removable to permit assembly of the tool holder 4| on the body member |2 but when the screw end 62 engages the endsfpf the slot 63 the tool holder is prevented from escaping from association with the body member. f

The free ends of the legs of the U-shaped tool holder are provided with bearings for supporting a milling cutter 1| for free rotation. An abrasion resistant bushing 16 is provided in the lower end of the leg 54 to provide a bearing for one end of the milling cutter 1|. A bushing 11 is carried by the free end of the leg 38 providing the second bearing for the cutting tool. The cutter may be provided with a tapered shank 18 so that power may be applied thereto for driving the cutter during the milling operation. lt will be observed that the cutter 1| extends through the slots 42 and 56 in the front and back walls of the body member and these slotsl are of such lengthas to permit the cutter to remove metal from the end of the keyway slot during the milling operation.

The milling device includes an arrangement for moving the tool holder 4| upwardly relative to the body member |2 and the coupler |0. It is for this purpose that a threaded shaft 8| is arranged to engage threads in an opening in the intermediate portion of the tool holder. This shaft may be rotated by means of a hand wheel :82 having a handle 83 mounted thereon. 'I'he body member |2 may be provided with a hardened metal insert or plug 86 having an enlarged head and shrunk or otherwise secured within an opening in the top plate 28. The insert 86 is provided for being engaged by the lower end of the threaded shaft 8|.

The milling device is designed primarily for use in refinishing the keyway slot in a railway car coupler but it will be appreciated that the mechanism has utility in other metal cutting operations. When it is desired to redress or renish the keyway slot of a coupler the cupshaped body member I2 with the tool holder 4| arranged thereon and with the milling cutter 1I removed is arranged over the butt end |4 of a coupler as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It will be observed that the milling cutter 1| is removable from the bearings 16 and 11 by shifting the cutter to the left in Fig. 4. After the body member |2 is in a position, as shown in Fig. 3, with the top plate 28 in substantially abutting engagement with the end of the coupler the screws 3| are adjusted to align the axis of the bearings 16 and 11 with the center line of the keyway slot The inner ends of the screws 3| engage the sides of the coupler shank and thereby maintain the body member I2 in a xed adjusted position relative to the coupler.

Thereafter the milling cutter 1| or a cutter of similar type is introduced with the free end 9| through the bearing 11 and through the slot 42 and through the keyway slot in the shank of the coupler. The free end 9| is then introduced into the bearing 16. The hand wheel 82 is then turned to rotate the threaded shaft 8| whereby the lower end engages the top of the body member |2 or the plug 66'. The tool holder 4| is thereby moved upwardly and the legs 38 and 54 are guided in the elongated recesses in the front and back walls of the body member. Such upward movement of the tool holder moves the cutter 1| into a position to engage the end of the keyway slot The cutter 1| may be rotated to renish the slot by applying power to the shank 18.

The invention includes means for indicating the quantity of metal removed from the keyway slot. Such means include a Scale 96 provided on the outer face of the leg 38 of the tool holder. The front wall |6 carries a bracket 91 having ian index 93 overlying the scale 86. Accordingly, by noting the graduation at the beginning of the milling operation the extent of the lengthwise enlargement of the keyway slot can be determined at any instant by observing the graduation opposite the index 93.

After the milling operation has been completed the device may be removedffrom association with the coupler shank by rst retracting the threaded shaft 8| from engagement with the body member or the insert 86. The tool holder 4| is then free to move downwardly whereby the cutter 1| may be withdrawn'endwise from the keyway slot Thereafter the screws 3| may be retracted which frees the device Yfor lbeing removed from the end of a coupler. It will be observed that the tool holder 4| cannot be inadvertently detached from the body member since the screw 6| limits the lengthwisemovement of the Ilegs of the tool carrier with respect to the body member.

The device adapted for couplers having a shank of as much as six or seven inches in cross section Y is of weight such as to be capable of being manipulated by a single operator. Accordingly, the

ymilling device may be readily moved to from one coupler to another. One or both of the legs of the tool holder lil may be provided with a slot such as shown at Sli extending above the bearing bushing il as shown in Fig. 4. This slot is for the purpose of introducing liquid lubricant or cooling agent therethrough and through the slot i2 to facilitate the operation of the cutter 1|. It will be observed that the slot 90 is of such narrow dimensions as to prevent the bearing bushing Ti from being dislodged from a lposition within the opening in the leg 33 of the tool holder.

While the invention has been described with reference to specic structural features and with regard to a detailed arrangement of the parts it will be appreciated that changes may be made in the shape of the elements as Well as the general organization. Such modifications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for milling the keyway slot in the shank of a railway car coupler comprising, a cupshaped body member having a cross section similar to the cross section of the shank of the coupler adapted to be arranged over the rear end of the coupler shank with a closed end of the cup-shaped body member abutting against the rear end thereof, threaded screws carried by the cup-shaped body member for engaging sides of the coupler shank to adjust the position of the body member on the coupler shank, said body member having an elongated recess in one side thereof arranged lengthwise thereof, said body member having a second elongated recess larranged in the opposite side extending lengthwise thereof, a U-shaped tool holder having legs slidable in said recesses, bearings carried by free ends of said legs, a shaft threaded in an intermediate portion of the U-shaped tool holder adapted to engage the closed end of the cup-shaped body member to move the tool holder relative to the body member, and a detachable milling cutter journalled for rotation in said bearings and adapted to extend through the keyway slot in the coupler shank.

2. In a device for milling a transverse slot in an elongated article, a cup-shaped body member adapted to be arranged over an end of the article and abut against the end of the article means carried by opposite portions of the cup-shaped body member for engaging sides of the article to adjust the position of the body member on the article, said body member having a recess in one side arranged lengthwise thereof, said body member having a second recess arranged in the opposite side extending lengthwise thereof, a U-shaped tool holder having legs slidable within said recesses, bearings carried by the free ends of said legs, a shaft threaded i'n an intermediate portion of the U-shaped tool holder adapted to engage a closed end of the cup-shaped body member to move the tool holder relative to the body member, and a milling cutter journalled for rotation in said bearings and adapted to ex tend through said slot in the article.

3. In a device for milling the keyway slot in the shank of a railway car coupler comprising, a cup-shaped body member adapted to be arranged over a butt end of the coupler shank with a closed end of the body member abutting against the butt end of the coupler shank, means carried by opposite portions of the cup-shaped body member for engaging sides of the coupler shank to adjust the position of the body member thereon, said body member having a recess in one side arranged lengthwise thereof, said body member having a second recess arranged in the opposite side extending lengthwise thereof, a U-shaped tool helder having legs slidable within said recesses, bearings carried by the free ends of said legs, a shaft threaded in an intermediate portion of the U-shaped tool holder adapted to engage the closed end of the cup-shaped body member, a milling cutter journalled for rotation in said bearings and adapted to extend through the keyway slot in the coupler shank, a scale on one leg of the U-shaped tool holder, and an index member carried by the cup-shaped body member overlying said scale.

e. A device for machining a transverse slot within the end of an elongated article comprising, a cup-shaped bodymember adapted to be arranged over the end of the article with a closed end of the body member engaging the end of the article, threaded screws carried by opposite portions of the cup-shaped body member for engaging sides of the article to adjust the position of the body member on the article, said body member having a recess in one side thereof arranged lengthwise thereof, said body member having a second recess arranged in the opposite side extending lengthwise thereof, a U-shaped tool holder having legs slidable within said recesses, bearings carried by the free ends of said legs, a shaft threaded in an intermediate portion of the U-shaped tool holder adapted to engage the closed end of the cup-shaped body member to move the tool holder relative to the body member, a milling cutter journalled for rotation in said bearings and adapted to extend through said transverse slot, and a detachable abutment member carried by one leg of the tool holder for engaging spaced portions of the cup-shaped body member to limit movement of the tool holder relative to the body member.

5. A device for milling a transverse slot in an elongated article, a cup-shaped body member adapted to be arranged over an end of the article, a pair of threaded screws carried by opposite portions of the cup-shaped body member for engaging sides of the article, said body member having a recess in one side thereof arranged lengthwise thereof, said body member having a second recess in the opposite side extending lengthwise thereof, a U-shaped tool holder having legs slidable within said recesses, bearings carried by free ends of said legs, a shaft threaded in an intermediate portion of the U-shaped tool holder adapted to engage the closed end of the cup-shaped body member, a milling cutter journalled for rotation in said bearings and adapted to extend through said slot, said body member having an elongated opening therein, and an abutment screw carried by one leg of the tool holder for engaging ends of said elongated opening for limiting movement of the tool holder relative to the body member.

LEWIS W. MCCLELLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 477,638 Brewer June 28, 1892 1,200,711 Detrick Oct. 10, 1916 1,675,374 Mueller et al July 3, 1928 

